Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium

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You are here: Home / News / HERL earns patent for enhanced mobility wheelchair

HERL earns patent for enhanced mobility wheelchair

06/04/2021

In February, researchers from the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) were granted a patent for an innovative new wheelchair. The Mobility Enhancement Robotic Wheelchair, or MEBot for short, is capable of dealing with difficult, uneven terrain while keeping its user safe and providing a smooth ride. MEBot’s programming detects when it encounters surfaces of different steepness and compensates for it. Its six height-adjustable wheels work in a variety of modes that allow it to climb curbs and deal with other differences in elevation.

HERL is a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and UPMC Health System. View a video of MEBot.

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